The Ghost Writer

Makhanlal was in the bathroom when the phone rang. His secretary received the call. The caller didn't tell Makhanlal's secretary why he had called. But he did mention that the call is from the All India Writer's Group.

When his secretary told him about the call, he realized that the All India Writer's Group would like to honor him with the Literary Titan award, the biggest award in India's literary realm. A few hours later when the All India Writer's Group called him and told that he would be the recipient of India's most coveted award, Makhanlal turned elated.

Makhanlal Srivastav is a writer by profession. He falls under India's top writers legion. He has received numerous awards in his lifetime.

Hearing the news everyone became really happy, barring his secretary. Makhanlal knows the reason. After all, all the works that Makhanlal has created under his name are actually written by his secretary, Puneet Sharma. Puneet always has a penchant for writing. Makhanlal knew it. On the other hand, Makhanlal wanted all the fame and glory of being a creative person. He had everything that can be achieved materially, but not a recognition in the society.

So he decided to become a writer. But he couldn't write. So he hired Puneet as his secretary who agreed to ghostwrite for him.

Puneet comes from a poor family. He needed a job and initially the monthly salaries from Makhanlal did help him to run his family.

Over a period of time, both Makhanlal realized that as a writer Puneet is absolutely top-notch. All the awards that he received are after all Puneet's awards.

So this time also, he asks Puneet to write his acceptance speech. Puneet writes the speech in accordance with the brief. But Makhanlal has planned for something else. He has decided that this time he will reveal that all his novels and short stories are written by Puneet Sharma, his secretary.

On the day of the award ceremony, Makhanlal informs Puneet to join him.

Makhanlal arrives at the ceremony. Sits in the front row. The announcer calls him to the stage to receive the award. Makhanlal receives the award. The announcer asks him to say a few words. Makhanlal goes to the mic and as he starts to speak, he feels a sudden pain in his chest. He suddenly succumbs on the stage. Doctor arrives and upon arrival Makhanlal is declared dead.

One month after the incident, Puneet receives a letter from All India Writer's Group that he has to attend a seminar on Makhanlal's legacy. He goes to the seminar. The organizer invites Puneet to say a few words about his former boss. He gives a short lecture on Makhanlal. But the moment he prepares to leave the stage, he gets stopped by one of the organizers. The person tells him that we know the truth. Puneet doesn't understand. The person tells him that before the award ceremony Makhanlal informed them that he wants them to repeal all the awards that were given to him and transfer the awards to Puneet Sharma instead.

Puneet turns speechless. He did not expect this. The organizer calls him to the center of the stage for the last time. The organizer hands him a book titled 'The Ghostwriter' and authored by Puneet Sharma. He is spellbound.

The organizer tells everyone about the truth and introduces Puneet Sharma as the writer of Makhanlal's novels and short stories.

Puneet is still spellbound because “The Ghostwriter' is the only novel that was written by Makhanlal Srivastav, his former employer.